Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at home on Sunday.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Behind a tidy start from Shane Bieber, and a barrage of hits from throughout their lineup, the Toronto Blue Jays clobbered the Baltimore Orioles 11-2 to complete a series sweep on Sunday.
Bieber, making his fifth start in a Blue Jays uniform, struck out five and allowed four hits and one run over six innings.
George Springer had two doubles and a homer to lead a prolific day at the plate for the Jays, who finished out a 5-1 homestand and improved to 50-25 at Rogers Centre this year.
As the regular season narrows to its two final weeks before the postseason begins, the Jays (87-62) maintain their hold on the best record in the American League, 2.5 games up on the Detroit Tigers.
“I feel great. I’m happy to be out there competing, enjoying pitching for a winning ball club. What more can you ask for?” Bieber said. “We’re in a pennant race and playing good baseball.”
For the third game in a row, Baltimore scored first on Sunday afternoon – this time on a second-inning solo homer from Coby Mayo.
Yet unlike in recent days, the Jays didn’t need a late-game comeback to win. They tied the game with back-to-back doubles in the third – the first by Andrés Giménez, and the second by Springer to bring him home.
Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slides into home plate on Sunday.Kevin Sousa/Reuters
Another double, from Ernie Clement in the fourth, which darted into left field, scored both Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho to give Toronto a two-run lead.
Springer got to slide on Toronto’s home run jacket in the fifth, when he cracked a solo shot to put the Jays up by three – his 29th homer of the season.
“This is arguably one of his best seasons,” Jays manager John Schneider said of Springer. “He’s the straw that stirs the drink. When he’s getting on base and hitting the ball the way he’s hitting it and running the bases the way he runs them, it rubs off on everybody.”
A double from Joey Loperfido in the sixth scored Clement. Then the Jays added six runs in a monster seventh inning that saw Addison Barger, Kirk and Clement all hit to bring runners home. Kirk wound up with three singles on the day.
After Bieber was done, Louis Varland was the first to run out of Toronto’s bullpen. He allowed Baltimore’s only other run of the game – a solo homer from Colton Cowser in the seventh. The Jays also got a pair of innings from Ryan Borucki.
The Orioles used a mix of bullpen pitchers – and a position player – on the mound Sunday, who combined to allow Toronto 14 hits to eight different Blue Jays.
“I remember when Bo [Bichette] went on the IL, [media] were asking, who needs to step up, and the answer was just everybody,” Schneider said. “And I think everyone has.”
Schneider said the coaches were joking that the Jays seem to be enjoying the game like they’re kids playing on a sandlot.
“Guys are just out playing baseball and having fun,” he said. “So it’s nice to be around.”
Next up, the Jays begin a four-game series in Tampa against the Rays. Right-hander Trey Yesavage gets the start Monday, his big-league debut. Then the Jays will start José Berríos, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt.
It’s the team’s final road trip of the regular season, which will also include three games in Kansas City.
The Jays have 13 regular-season contests remaining.